Councilman Jerry Marsalli

More than a dozen Santa Clara residents are running for four seats on the 7-member City Council this November. But one candidate is already raising some eyebrows.

Ahmad Rafah, the former deputy communications director and business/tech policy advisor to Congressman Mike Honda, stunned some political insiders by throwing his name into the hat. Some speculated that Rafah is part of a bigger plan — fueled by business interests and possibly the San Francisco 49ers — to overthrow the council majority led by Mayor Lisa Gillmor.